Pine Bluff Daily Graphic

President McKinley's Message to Congress Will Urge That the Canal Be Built Under Government Directions. New York, Nov. 8.--A dispatch to The Herald from Washington says: In President McKinley's message to congress will be a very strong and urgent appeal for immediate legislative action for the construction of the Nicaraguan canal under government direction. The president will point out that our new connections in the Pacific and in the West Indies make it imperative for the United States to build and control the great international waterway. And delay beyond the present congress in authorizing its construction will jeopardize the chance for American control in the future. President McKinley fully appreciates the difficulties in the way of securing prompt action, but he and other canal advocates also appreciate that failure this year may mean permanent failure. Hence preparations are going forward for one of the most bitter fights ever waged in the interest of the canal. Action of the Nicaraguan government in granting a new concession for the construction of the canal conditional upon the forfeiture of the contract with the Maritime Canal company, in October next, has added new complications to the difficulties in the way of legislation. The authorities consider that it adds another element of opposition to prompt action on the pending Morgan bill, which contemplates the construction of the canal under government direction on the basis of the concession granted to the Maritime Canal company. The Morgan bill in all of its essential features is understood to have the indorsement of the administration. It is supposed that the new company is inimical to the Maritime company. It is assumed if it does not succeed in selling out to the concessionaires it will exert its influence to prevent action by congress this winter in order that its own contract may go into effect next October. Besides opposition from this new company, friends of the Morgan bill will have the powerful Huntington and Panama canal interests arrayed against them. Friends of the latter party are already in Washington preparing for a campaign against the Nicaraguan canal. J. L. Morgan is to be a factor in the coming legislative war. It is stated that while in Nicaragua last winter he made an arrangement with President Zelaya to look after the interests of Nicaragua in this country.